Johann van Graan is predicting a Gallagher Premiership 2024/25 season to set pulses racing. Bath’s head of rugby expects ball in play time to go through the roof with the World Rugby approved ‘fan-focused’ law amendments in operation.
Removing the scrum option as a free kick choice appears to have led to more tap penalties being taken since the new law was applied since July 1, while amendments to the offside law in front of a kicker have helped to ensure less static play.
Van Graan has made the necessary steps to make sure the uptick in the game’s tempo isn’t a shock to the system when they kick off their campaign against free-flowing champions Northampton, at The Rec on Friday, September 20.
“I believe this season will be the season with the highest ball in play, so we have looked at certain bits that we can do differently,” he said, while taking time out from signing autographs and speaking with fans at Bath’s annual supporters’ day.
“If you look at the law changes, they are favouring high ball in play time so we have got to be adaptable and then most importantly you have to take what you have.
“If it is a beautiful day like it is today at The Rec it is brilliant to play a running brand of rugby. If it is December like last year when it was against Leicester and you literally can’t run here, you have to be able to play a different game. So we’ve become good at both spectrums, and hopefully we can become better.”
Opta stats reveal that last season Bath averaged the lowest ball in play time of any of the 10 teams in the Premiership. With a dominant pack, Bath looked to play more of a structured game rather than throw the ball around with abandon.
Bath’s match average was 36 minutes and 35 seconds – over a minute less than the league average, which could be pushing the 40-minute mark this season if van Graan’s prediction holds true.
Defensively, though, Bath stayed in the fight for the full 80 minutes in last season’s run to the final, and there is nothing to suggest they will fall away if the ball-in-play increases.
They were the strongest team in the final quarter of matches, conceding on average the fewest tries (0.5) and points (4.05) in the final 20 minutes of games.
And the fitness of the squad is without dispute, according to van Graan. “They were in such good shape at the back end of last season. The way rugby is now it is literally a five-week break and you are straight into it. It is not like guys get really unfit in five weeks.
“We have worked extremely smart this pre-season because it is shorter. We are looking to make them more fit in specific ways. All credit to the playing group, they are all in phenomenal shape.”
